Location
The Studio, Manchester
The Hive, 51 Lever Street Manchester M1 1FN
Date & Time
September 12, 2024, 9:00- 17:00
We are taking our Leasehold Conference back on the road in 2024.

The team at News on the Block are looking forward to joining our friends and colleagues in the Midlands for our Leasehold Conference. This year we will be bringing the event back to Manchester.

Our Leasehold conferences are where you will find everything you need to know about the latest in the leasehold property sector.

If you are looking for a full and productive one-day event, tailored specifically to your needs then look no further. Including plenary sessions and a selection of workshops, you will also have the opportunity to attend sessions of your choice covering topics relevant to you.

There are opportunities to network with your peers, our supporters, ask questions, and keep updated with developments in the industry. Our handpicked speakers bring a wealth of knowledge to our bespoke regional event.
Plenary Sessions 
Leasehold & Freehold Reform Act
Fire and Building Safety: The stuff you aren’t hearing
Workshops 
Resident Engagement
Ensuring Compliance: Implementing Effective Asbestos Management
Networking for Success
Compartmentation  
The Legal Update
Breaking out of the Mould – an effective damp & mould strategy for Property Managers
Service Charge Accounts and Budgeting
What is really happening with Insurance premiums?
The extent and width of liability for defective works to dwellings under the Defective Premises Act 1972, s. 1
Leasehold Roadshow 
2024 Photo Gallery
Please click the first image and scroll through to view the full gallery. If you would like a higher resolution version of any of the photos please contact [email protected] 
Speakers
We are excited to announce the lineup of impressive speakers at this event in due course. 
Roger Hardwick
 Partner (TS) Brethertons Solicitors
Roger is recognised as one of the UK’s leading experts in residential leasehold property law and has over 15 years’ experience.
He has played a key role in the development of leasehold case law and legislation. His work includes statutory lease extensions, collective enfranchisement and right to manage claims; freehold acquisitions; ground rent portfolio sales and purchases; residential service charge disputes; applications to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and appeals to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), including applications to determine service charge liabilities, applications to appoint a manager and applications to vary leases.
Adam Sanders
technical director, riskbase
As Technical Director at RiskBase, Adam has spent over 15 years working in fire safety software specialising in the residential property market. He's a regular speaker on the building safety regime, helping consultants as well as accountable people better understand and simplify their approach to safety cases and management systems.  
Shaun Harris
Founder & Managing Director, Harris Associates
Shaun is the founder and managing director of Harris Associates. He is a chartered building surveyor with over 35 years’ experience across the public and private realms, having previously worked at Balfour Beatty, Ridge and Drivers Jonas (Deloitte) before setting up Harris Associates in 2007.
As well as providing the strategic direction and leadership for the firm, Shaun specialises in the provision of lead consultant and project management services for large residential developments and is currently advising on residential portfolios across the UK with a combined capital expenditure forecast in excess of £4Bn.
Jack Seton
Head of FlatGuard Insurance
Jack Seton is a distinguished figure in the realm of insurance, boasting an impressive 20-year tenure that speaks to his profound industry knowledge and dedication. Renowned for his specialisation in blocks of flats insurance and the intricate leasehold industry, Jack has honed his skills to master the challenges and demands that accompany property coverage in this specialised field.
Throughout his career, Jack has become synonymous with excellence and reliability, particularly in crafting insurance solutions that cater directly to the unique needs of multi-unit residential buildings. His efforts have not only provided peace of mind to numerous property owners and leaseholders but have also raised the bar for what constitutes comprehensive and responsive insurance coverage in this sector.
James Purdey 
Head of Operations, 4site Consulting
James Purdey, Head of Field Operations at 4site Consulting since 2016 and experienced risk assessor, is in charge of leading a large dedicated team of assessors. Throughout his career, James has delivered multiple technical talks, hosted numerous webinars, and featured on several podcast episodes in the industry. Due to his extensive industry experience, he is able to provide valuable insights into Health, Fire & Safety, Asbestos, Legionella and more. He is a distinguished Member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (MIFSM) and holds the Technician Grade (TIFireE) designation from the Institute of Fire Engineers.
Rayanne Armand
Partner and Chartered Accountant, qube accountants
Rayanne is a Chartered Accountant with ICAEW, and holds a Master's Degree in Finance. She started her career at the two largest accountancy firms in the world, working at PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) in Cape Town, South Africa, before moving to Deloitte in London. Rayanne is now a Partner at Qube Accountants based in Exeter, Devon. She founded Qube Accountants as she recognised that block & estate management can be tough and wanted to offer block managers a service that goes above and beyond just ticking the boxes, so she built a specialist service charge accounts team to support block managers in providing a world-class service.
Andrew Banister
director, EK North and EK Midlands
Andrew Banister launched Earl Kendrick’s northern office in Manchester in 2017, and now leads the firm’s work across the north and central England, working with clients in both the residential and commercial sectors. He has a passion for buildings, particularly those of historic, architectural or special importance, like the Manchester Town Hall and all its gothic features. But as well as appreciating the aesthetics of architecture, he also relishes the challenge of undertaking complex major works projects on buildings of any kind. His varied experience in the property business means he is able to view a project from both the surveyor’s and client’s perspective, to the benefit of all stakeholders.
Andrew previously worked in the project management team of a major retailer, before moving into the leasehold sector. As a building surveyor, he has a strong background in the high-end residential sector.
Elizabeth Fisher
barrister, tanfield
Elizabeth Fisher is a member at Tanfield, who specialises in property and housing disputes as well as commercial and insolvency. She is regularly instructed in a variety of Property and Commercial Disputes. Elizabeth provides a range of legal services to landlords, tenants, local authorities, housing associations, and charities. She has a strong track record of advising and representing clients in court proceedings and in negotiations. Elizabeth is dedicated to providing practical solutions to complex legal issues.  
Christopher Heather KC
barrister, tanfield
Christopher Heather KC is a member at Tanfield, whose expertise encompasses all aspects of real property, commercial and residential landlord and tenant and associated professional liability. He has a keen interest in the principles of valuation in a range of different contexts and particularly enjoys working with (and cross-examining) expert witnesses. Christopher has been recommended for property and real estate litigation in the main directories for many years.
 Verity McMahon
partner, brethertons
Verity is a Partner and Leasehold Specialist in the Residential Leasehold Team with significant experience within the Landlord and Tenant Sector and specific specialist knowledge in dealing with Leasehold Enfranchisement claims and matters.
Verity has over ten years of specialist knowledge in Landlord and Tenant and Leasehold Enfranchisement matters, her experience spans across a variety of leasehold areas and she assists a variety of clients including Freeholders, Leaseholders, RTM Companies, Managing Agents and Management Companies with their leasehold properties, freehold portfolios, and leasehold enquiries.
Verity has specialist leasehold technical experience, a keen eye for detail, is client focussed and makes these often-complex matters simple for her clients, resolving matters with as little stress as possible for all involved. All whilst keeping commercially minded for each client’s needs and property or portfolio

Rob Mayo
ceo, insurety 
Rob is CEO of Insurety. Insurety offer a vibrant fresh approach for property professionals operating within the block management, commercial property retirement housing and private rented sectors. The experienced team work tirelessly to ensure that our unique strategy provides more than just an insurance service to our clients. Whether it be our unique partnerships, our bespoke market leading schemes or our one of a kind products, our core strategy is to provide additional value to our clients and their businesses. 
Nicholas Grundy KC
barrister, five paper 
Nicholas Grundy KC is a Property, Public Law and Human Rights specialist barrister from Five Paper. He is praised in the most recent edition of Chambers UK as “Magnificent. His advice and advocacy are impeccable and of the highest standard, and yet he retains the ability to communicate complex matters to solicitors and clients." Nick has been listed by both leading independent legal directories Chambers UK Bar and The Legal 500 Bar Guide as a leading individual for many years, and was shortlisted for Real Estate, Environment and Planning Silk of The Year at The Legal 500 UK Awards 2020, and Property and Housing Silk of The Year in the Legal 500 UK Awards 2024.
Head of the Five Paper Real Property Group and a member of the Landlord and Tenant, Public Law and Housing Groups, Nick is instructed in all aspects of property law involving private property disputes and where property and public law interact, for example where protesters occupy public buildings or individuals assert Equality or Human Rights against a public sector property owner.
Charles Creed BA MA Gdip RIBA
Design Coordination Manager,
fr consultants
A qualified architect and experienced technical designer with a background in corporate, private, and domestic construction. Charles manages the technical aspects of and delivery of safety case reports to FR Consultants' clients. He was one of the early qualifiers in the CIOB Level 6 Building Safety Manager programme. He has a passion making information clear and looks to help clients systemise processes so that safety becomes integral part of an holistic and internal management system.
Jonathan Channing
consultant, jc property consultancy
Jonathan is a property management consultant specialising in all matters ‘block management’. He works with RMCs and RTMs, managing agents, and talented suppliers to the industry. And to ensure he can consider issues from all angles, he is an RMC director twice over in London and Herts respectively. A fellow of the IRPM and pro-bono Honorary Consultant to the FPRA, Jonathan enjoys a helicopter view of the sector and is in a strong position to assist and guide all stakeholders in making sustainably good decisions.
Jodie Fraser 
Founder & CEO, fraser allen estate management
Coming Soon. 
Thank you to our event sponsors. 
Event Schedule
9:00 AM
Registration & Networking 
9:30 AM
Welcome & Plenary Session
Leasehold & Freehold Reform Act
Roger Hardwick, Partner & Verity McMahon, Partner, Brethertons
10:30 AM
Coffee and Networking
11:15 AM - 12:00 pm
Workshops
The Legal Update
Christopher Heather KC, Barrister & Elizabeth Fisher, Barrister, Tanfield

Compartmentation
Shaun Harris, Founder, Harris Associates

Breaking out of the Mould – an effective damp & mould strategy for Property Managers
Andrew Banister, Director, EK North and EK Midlands
12:00 pm
Networking Lunch 
13:00 pm
Plenary Session 2
Fire and Building Safety: The stuff you aren’t hearing
Adam Sanders, Technical Director, RiskBase, Jonathan Channing, Consultant, Charles Creed BA MA Gdip RIBA, Design Coordination Manager, FR Consultants and Jodie Fraser, Founder & CEO, Fraser Allen Estate Management.
14:00 pm
Coffee and Networking 
14:30 pm- 15:15 pm
Workshops
Networking for Success
Jack Seton, Head of FlatGuard Insurance

Resident Engagement
Adam Sanders, Technical Director, RiskBase

What is really happening with Insurance premiums? 
Rob Mayo, Chief Executive Officer, Insurety
15:20 pm - 16:05 pm
Workshops
Service Charge Accounts and Budgeting
Rayanne Armand, Partner and Chartered Accountant, Qube Accountants

Ensuring Compliance: Implementing Effective Asbestos Management
James Purdey, Head of Operations, 4site Consulting

The extent and width of liability for defective works to dwellings under the Defective Premises Act 1972, s. 1
Nicholas Grundy KC, Barrister, Five Paper
16:05 pm - 16:30 pm
Networking and Event Close
Ticket Prices
Standard Early Bird Rate: £120 plus VAT
Subscriber Early Bird Rate: £100 plus VAT

The early bird rate ended on 30 June 2024.

Tickets prices after 30 June are as follows:

Standard Ticket: £145 plus VAT
Subscriber Standard Ticket: £120 plus VAT

Don’t forget to ensure you are logged in as a subscriber to get your additional subscriber discount.

If you are interested in booking more than one ticket, please get in touch for discounted group rates. E: [email protected]
Don't miss out.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Conference Location
Manchester

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